North Texas Wild: Escape the heat at these green retreats

By Amy Martin, Mon., Aug. 25, 2014 /

Summers in Texas extend deep into September, even October. Months after the longest day, the ground continues to absorb and radiate heat.

Trapped in our air-conditioned caves for too long, we need relief! Here is a selection of nature places to go green while cooling off.

Swimming Beaches at Area Lakes

Slather on the sunscreen, take a lot of cold beverages and get wet. The sandy beaches may be completely artificial, but much better than a mucky walk to swim in a lake. Float away from the shore to find deeper, cooler water. Most of the parks have picnic tables and playgrounds for kids; some have overnight camping. Swim until 10 pm at most.

• Twin Points Park at the south end of Eagle Mountain Lake near the dam. Still under construction. Located on Ten Mile Bridge Rd. in Fort Worth.

Spring-Fed Bodies of Water

Cool, clean spring water in shady natural domains. Ahhhhhh.

• Chickasaw National Recreation Area is located in the Arbuckle Mountains of south-central Oklahoma. It’s a cool, shady oasis just two hours from DFW. The spring-fed Travertine Creek is a blast to play in… when it flows. Currently it’s not, but that often changes in the fall. The spring-fed ponds are still good, but they’re too shallow for swimming. Darn good soak, though. Lots of campgrounds on site and hotels/B&Bs nearby. Turner Falls Park a few miles away is commercial and crowded, but the springs are vigorous. GreenSource DFW feature. Located at 1008 W. 2nd St, Sulphur, OK 73086.

Right, CCC stone work at Chickasaw NRA.

• Lake Fannin Park at Caddo National Grasslands. A spring-fed lake that never goes dry, 90 minutes northeast of Dallas near Bonham. The lake bank is boggy, so take a canoe or kayak out to the center and then jump in. GreenSource DFW feature. Located at CR 2035 in Fannin County.

The focus of these night hikes is on nocturnal wildlife like opossums, raccoons and owls. They’re usually not held in cold or rainy weather. For current dates, check the GreenSource DFW weekly calendar or get on the parks’ email newsletter lists.

• Campión Trails is a master-planned greenbelt from the Irving park department along the Elm Fork and West Fork of the Trinity River. It can get quite wild. Night hikes there are infrequent and worth planning for. The next one is Friday, Oct. 17. Location will be confirmed upon registration.

• Fort Worth Nature Center also offers monthly Full Moon Paddles that are not to be missed. See beavers and deer! The next one is Sept. 8. Located at 9601 Fossil Ridge Rd, Fort Worth, TX 76135.

Star-Watching Parties

Parties begin at dusk and last until 10 p.m. or so. Usually not held in cold or rainy weather. Check the GreenSource DFW weekly calendar for current listings or get on the parks’ email newsletter lists.

• See the night sky through telescopes at Texas Astronomical Society star parties. Get a close look at planets and nebulae. Held at parks in Cedar Hill, Frisco, Garland and Rockwall. Next one is Sept. 6 at Spring Park Preserve, 1787 Holford Road, Garland, TX 75044. See website for locations.

Right, Summer supermoon. Courtesy of Phil Plank/LLELA.

• Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area hosts monthly Stars on the Prairie gatherings on Friday nights in warm weather. Learn the constellations and how to identify planets. Excellent and easy night hiking. LLELA is immense enough to have the least light interference in DFW. Next star party is Sept. 19. Located at 1600-1798 N Mill St, Lewisville, TX 75057.

• More deep-sky viewing with Fort Worth Astronomical Society star parties held at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History. Staff from the Noble Planetarium make these extra star nerdy. The next one is Sept. 6. Located at 1600 Gendy St, Fort Worth, TX 76107.

Wet and Shady Oasis

In the heart of Texas summers, even shady places can be steamy. These three are exceptions.

• The Eugenia Leftwich Palmer Fern Dell at the Dallas Arboretum features misters that keep the area extra cool. Mature trees and a small winding brook provide habitat for 90 varieties of ferns, camellias and azaleas. The McCasland Sunken Garden is another sweet shady spot with water features. Located at 8525 Garland Rd., Dallas, TX 75218.

• For a wilder experience, try the Lennox Woods Preserve. Its old growth bottomland forest stays cooler than most woods and extra tall trees allow for breezes. Two hours northeast of Dallas near Clarksville. GreenSource DFW feature. Located on CR 2227 in Red River County.

Indoor Gardens

Stay cool inside while getting your green on at these air-conditioned attractions.

• Rosine Smith Sammons Butterfly House & Insectarium at Texas Discovery Gardens is always colorful. The second story level of the 7,000-square-foot venue is a tad on the warm side, but worth it. Butterfly release daily at noon. Located at 3601 Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75210.

Right, the Clipper butterfly. Courtesy of James Laurie/Texas Discovery Gardens.

A journalist and writer of over 30 years experience, Amy Martin was recycling columnist for the Dallas Morning News and contributing editor of Garbage magazine. For two decades she organized Winter SolstiCelebrations and other events as director of Earth Rhythms and operated the Moonlady News service. Her column “Norh Texas Wild” appears monthly in GreenSourceDFW.org. She may be reached through www.Moonlady.com.

Amy Martin

Amy Martin is the North Texas Wild at GreenSourceDFW and author of Itchy Business: How to Treat the Poison Ivy and Poison Oak Rash. More info at http://itchy.biz/. Most frequently she was the senior comedy critic for TheaterJones, The Aging Hippie columnist for Senior Voice, and the Taoist panel member of the Texas Faith blog of The Dallas Morning News. A journalist for over 40 years, she wrote for Dallas Observer, Dallas Times Herald, Dallas Morning News, and D magazine, and was contributing editor and columnist for Garbage magazine. She was known by many in North Texas as the Moonlady for her alternative newservice of 15 years, Moonlady News, and served as creator/producer/promoter of the acclaimed Winter and Summer SolstiCelebrations for 20 years.